Automatic battery filler



July 21, 1931-.

W. T.- COX UTOMATI C BATTERY FILLER Filed April 15 1950 Patented July" 21, 1931 PA'IENTV oFFlcE WILIlIs T. cox, or mmm, cALmoBNrA AUTOMATIC BATTERY FILLEB.

Application filed April 15,

This invention relates to a device for supplying a definite quantity of Huid to containers and it has especial reference to a device for adding waterto the cells of storage batteries in which the liquid has become depleted and the plates therein'exposed.

.I The essential objects of this invention are t'o provide a convenient, simple and inexpensive device of this character by which the llingof battery cells and the shutting off of the iow of the supply water is automatically accomplished; to provide a battery filler by whichythe cells of diiicultly accessible batteries may be readily and quickly supplied with water; and"to provide a simple device in which the supply of water to battery cells is automatic, requlres no manipulation and hence may be conveniently handledby one hand of the operator.

Other objects willV appear from the following speciication in connection with the accompanying drawings, whichl forms a part of this application and which represents a preferred form of embodiment of my invention. I

In the drawings,

, Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional View?l showing my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a section on line-2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view and Fig. 4 is -a sectional end lview along the line-4 4 of Fig. 1.

The invention consists of a hollow body or conduit arranged for attachment to a suitable container and extending at substantially right angles thereto, the'body being provided with a spout which extends at substantially right angles to said body, the passagewayv in said spout communicating with the passageway in said conduit and arranged to be closed by a valve having an operating stem that is adapted for engagement with one of the plates in a battery cell to unseat the valve and Y permit water from the container to flow through the spout, means being provided to admit air into the container as the' water discharges therefrom and adapted to be sealed by the water in the battery to prevent further flow through the spout.

Referring in particular detail to the form 1930. serial Nc. 444,439.

of embodiment expressed by the drawings, 1 designates a hollow body, preferably of acid resisting material, provided with means preferably in the form of internal threads 2 by which the body may be conveniently attached or coupled to a water container 3 which in practice is inverted as shown ,in Fig. 1 to cause the water therein to flow'into the body.

' The body 1 isprovided or formed with an`` extension 4 that f projects at substantially right angles to said body 1 and is provided with a passageway or duct 5 which communicates with and forms a continuation of the passageway in said hollow body 1. This extension 4 is of a length that will afford ready accessibility to batteries wherever they may be in motor cars', and it is provided or formed 4at the end thereof with a downwardly directed spout 6, that is disposed substantially at right angles to said extension 4. In the upper end of and Within the spout 6 is a seat 7 upon which is normally seated a valve 8 which is held upon its seat and normally closes the bore or passageway 9 in said spout by the pressure of water. The valve 8 is preferably of l'some heavy material, -as lead, to cause it to seat more quickly, such quick seating being additionally aided, if desired by a springpS, interposed between.v the top of the valve and the bottom of the plug 12. The valveris provided with a stem 10 which projects beyond the end of the spout 6 and is provided with a head 11 that is designed for engagement with a battery plate and relatively to which stem 10 the spout 6 and its component parts is movable to unseat the valve thereby to permit. the lwater'from the reservoir or container 3 to pass therethrough and into the battery cell. The top of the spout is providedwith a closure plug 12, which is connected therewith preferably by threaded engagement. This plug 12 carries a centrally disposed stop member 13 whichis adjustable`relatively to the plug and serves to limit the movement upwardly of the valve, thereby to predetermine the amount of fluid or water that is to be supplied to a battery cell, as explained later.

The spout 6 is formed with a passageway 14, which extends through the extension 4 and into the body 1, the continuation of said passageway to the top of the container and above the fluid level therein being eected by a vertical pipe l5. l

In practice, lthe device is attached to the bottle or other container 3 for the liquid with which the batteryis to be lilled and the bottle or container is thereupon inverted, such inversion causing the water to force and hold' the valve 8 upon its seat and preventing the discharge of any water through the spout 6. In the closed position of the valve, the stem 10 thereof pro]ects beyond the bottom of the spout. The spout is now inserted in a battery opening and the stem 10 is pressed into contact with a battery plate, thereby moving the stem upwardly and unseating the valve 8. Liquid from the container 3 thereupon flows through the spout 6 and continues to low therethrough and intovthe battery so long as air is inducted through the passageway 14 and pipe 15. Sio soon, however `as the level of the liquid in the battery closes the inlet to the air passageway 14, the liow of liquid through the spout will cease. The amount of liquid which will be supplied to the battery is determined by the distance ofthe end of the valve stem 10 from the end of or outlet vfrom vthe spout 6 and the inlet to the air sure will immediately cause the valve 8 to seat and check any furtherow of liquid through the spout. y

What I claim, is: Y 1. In a device of the character disclosed, a container for a'liquid, a hollow body arranged for attachment to said container, and extending at substantially right angles thereto, a downwardly directed spout connected with said body and provided with a seat, a valve operable relatively to said seat to open or close the passageway therein, a stem on said valve and extending beyond the outlet 'from said spout, and yielding means to hold and force said valve upon its seat, said spout andbody provided with a passageway for admitting air to the top of the container as the liquid therein discharges therefrom.

, 2. In a device of the character disclosed, a container for a liquid, a hollow body arranged for attachment to said container and extending at substantially right agles thereto, said body having a downwardly directed spout, the passageway of which communicates with the passageway in said body, a valve in said spout to open or close communication between the passageways in said body and spout, a stem connected to said valve and extending beyond the outlet end of said spout, a removable closure for the top of said spout, and an adjustable means carried by said closure to 

